Aging 'El Duque' aims for one more shot in majors

Baseball Betting Lines

08/10/2010 -

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -Orlando Hernandez isn't ready to give up baseball.

The four-time World Series champion is now a 44-year-old pitching for the Washington Nationals' affiliate in the Gulf Coast League for rookies. Known as ``El Duque,'' he's now just a minor leaguer trying to make it to The Show.

The Gulf Coast League is hardly a place anybody would expect to find a pitcher of his age clamoring for one more shot in the big leagues. Much less a man who escaped persecution in Cuba, defected to the majors and pitched his way into New York Yankees lore.

But that's exactly where Hernandez has landed. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2007 with the Mets, and he's hoping for one more chance to pitch in the majors.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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